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Topic 328 · History, Art & Culture

Southward spread of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism

10 MCQs · tap an option to check it · All answers

Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA

Core Trigger: Devdutt Pattanaik's September 2026 essay traced Jain, then Buddhist, then Hindu spread south from the Gangetic plain.
Evidence: Ashoka's rock edicts at Maski, Brahmagiri and Yerragudi show Buddhism on the southern plateau by the 3rd century BCE.
Key Bodies: On 13 March 2026 ASI cleared Tamil Nadu's Archaeology Department to excavate eight sites, including Keeladi.
Key Monument: The Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola, a 57-foot granite monolith, was completed in 981 CE.
Dating Data: Radiocarbon dating places a Keeladi settlement in the 6th century BCE; the Tamil-Brahmi inference is disputed.
Stakeholders: The Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda stupas on the Krishna river date from the 2nd century BCE onwards.
India Link: After 500 CE, Ganga and Yamuna images appear on South Indian temple doorways.
Venue: Maski lies in Raichur, Karnataka; the Amaravati stupa stands in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh.
Founded: The Maski edict, found in 1915, first carried the personal name Ashoka.
Landmark: By tradition Bhadrabahu led Jains south during a Mauryan famine.
Articles: Article 49 protects monuments of national importance; Article 51A(f) makes preserving composite culture a duty.
Definition: A stupa is a mound over relics; a vihara is a monastery.

Question 1 of 10

Which order of southward spread from the Gangetic plain did Pattanaik trace?

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Answer: (C) Jain, then Buddhist, then Hindu

Core Trigger: Devdutt Pattanaik's September 2026 essay traced Jain, then Buddhist, then Hindu spread south from the Gangetic plain.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 1

Question 2 of 10

Ashoka's edicts at Maski, Brahmagiri and Yerragudi show Buddhism in the south by which century BCE?

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Answer: (B) 3rd century BCE

Evidence: Ashoka's rock edicts at Maski, Brahmagiri and Yerragudi show Buddhism on the southern plateau by the 3rd century BCE.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Which site was among eight cleared for excavation on 13 March 2026?

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Answer: (C) Keeladi

Key Bodies: On 13 March 2026 ASI cleared Tamil Nadu's Archaeology Department to excavate eight sites, including Keeladi.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 3

Question 4 of 10

In which year was the Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola completed?

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Answer: (D) 981 CE

Key Monument: The Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola, a 57-foot granite monolith, was completed in 981 CE.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Radiocarbon dating places a Keeladi settlement in which century BCE?

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Answer: (A) 6th century BCE

Dating Data: Radiocarbon dating places a Keeladi settlement in the 6th century BCE; the Tamil-Brahmi inference is disputed.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 5

Question 6 of 10

The Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda stupas stand on which river?

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Answer: (B) Krishna

Stakeholders: The Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda stupas on the Krishna river date from the 2nd century BCE onwards.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 6

Question 7 of 10

Maski lies in which Karnataka district?

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Answer: (D) Raichur

Venue: Maski lies in Raichur, Karnataka; the Amaravati stupa stands in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 8

Question 8 of 10

In which year was the Maski edict found?

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Founded: The Maski edict, found in 1915, first carried the personal name Ashoka.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 9

Question 9 of 10

By tradition, who led Jains south during a Mauryan famine?

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Answer: (A) Bhadrabahu

Landmark: By tradition Bhadrabahu led Jains south during a Mauryan famine.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 10

Question 10 of 10

1. A stupa is a mound over relics. 2. A vihara is a mound over relics. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Definition: A stupa is a mound over relics; a vihara is a monastery.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 328, point 12

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